Back-to-school transitions can trigger stress and anxiety — these 5 books can help

As the end of summer approaches, many will find themselves preparing to usher in a new school year.

This transition period can be difficult, leading to a significant increase in stress and anxiety.

Bibliotherapy — the use of books and literature to support mental health and well-being — may be helpful.

The term bibliotherapy was coined in 1916, but the notion of using books or reading to support health and well-being was around well before then.

In recent years, bibliotherapy has been experiencing a resurgence to support mental health in clinical and non-clinical settings.

Mental health practitioners and scholars who study literature or books, as well as the intersection of medicine and human experiences of illness and wellness, are taking an interest in bibliotherapy in varied ways.

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As a professor of psychology and Director of the Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Training Hub at Carleton University, I have created the Reading for Well-being Community Book Club. Through this hub, I select evidence-based books on various dimensions of well-being and self-improvement.

Each month, members receive a newsletter with my selection and review, along with a link to an electronic discussion board to comment on the books. All are welcome to join and there are no fees.

Bibliotherapy, practised as prescribed reading by a mental health professional, can help with anxiety and depression with positive effects being sustained over a longer period.

If you seek to be proactive with maintaining your mental health, or are mildly concerned about how well you are doing (the mental health continuum model of “green, amber and red” zones might help you consider this), self-help books are among the resources that can provide a supportive option until you have access to a professional, or in conjunction to working with a trained professional.

When choosing books for this purpose, choose evidence-based books.

Here are five books offering strategies on how to ease the stress and anxiety associated with back-to-school transitions.

Shift: Managing Your Emotions — So They Don’t Manage you by Ethan Kross

Kross, a professor and leading expert on emotion regulation, explores the science of emotion and provides several evidence-based strategies to help you manage it in a healthy way.

One of the most powerful statements in the book is the very last one Kross makes: “We have the power to shift our lives,” which illustrates our capacity to improve well-being.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in emotion regulation.

Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion by Wendy Suzuki with Billie Fitzpatrick

Neuroscience professor Suzuki takes you on a science-filled journey of how anxiety works in our brains and how you can change those pathways for a more positive experience.

Three themes that emerge centre around making time for meditation, exercise and sleep. These elements may help you move from bad to good anxiety.

The notion of good anxiety is about coping and changing our perceptions and reactions to anxiety so that it becomes a strength and motivator; “our superpower,” as Suzuki notes.

Suzuki provides numerous guided strategies to help make the shift to good anxiety.

The Resilient Teen: 10 Key Skills to Bounce Back from Setbacks & Turn Stress Into Success by Sheela Raja

Raja, a clinical psychologist and professor, provides evidence-based strategies to help teens build their resilience, which is the ability to maintain well-being when stressors arise.

Using the strategies described can help readers develop resiliency.

This is a book for teens, and those who interact with teens, who want techniques to help deal with stress and anxiety.

Breathing is My Superpower: Mindfulness Book for Kids to Feel Calm and Peaceful by Alicia Ortego

This book features the character Sophia, who describes several child-friendly breathing techniques to help regulate emotions.

Some basic yoga techniques also are described to help ease anxiety. The techniques in the book can be practised by a child alone or with an adult.

Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

This is a child-friendly picture book on how worry can grow and become more difficult to manage if ignored.

By helping another child who experiences worry, the character Ruby learns that talking about worry can help manage it.

This book can be used as an entry point to talk to children about their emotions.

Reading for Well-Being podcast

Podcasts provide several benefits for health and well-being. Listeners can gain access to leading experts around the world and content may be presented in a way that helps people gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

I created the Reading for Well-Being podcast to facilitate my book club’s knowledge mobilization (providing research findings in a manner that can be used by the general public).

I interview the authors of my selected book club picks to help listeners better understand the science and strategies for improved well-being. Book club members can submit questions to the authors in advance of an episode’s recording.

Reading books about wellness or self-help can be a useful tool in coping with stress and anxiety associated with going back to school. But, remember, choose books that are written by professionals with advanced training from reputable institutions. For severe anxiety, seek help from a doctor or trained mental health professional.